Shark bites surfer in Australia

Surfer attacked by shark on NSW beach

 

Published by the Herald Sun,

3rd January 2012

A SURFER has been attacked by a shark on the NSW Central Coast.

The shark bit the 28-year-old man while he was surfing at around 8pm (AEDT) on Tuesday at North Avoca Beach, NSW Ambulance said in a statement.

“He felt his arm go underneath the surfboard.

“He immediately paddled back in to the beach to raise the alarm and asked local residents to dial Triple Zero.”

He sustained a 5cm puncture wound to his right forearm and another puncture wound to his right wrist.

Paramedics treated him on the scene, giving him pain relief and treating his wound.

He was then taken to Gosford Hospital in a stable condition.

Rick Parsons, president of the North Avoca Surf Lifesaving Club said witnesses had reported the shark being brown and about 1.8 metres long.

Mr Parsons speculated that it could have been a bronze whaler, which was recently sighted at nearby Terrigal Beach.

He said the attack was extremely uncommon.

“I’ve never known of a shark attack on North Avoca and I’ve been involved with the surf club for the past 20 years,” he said.

A spokesman from Gosford Hospital said a surfer had been admitted to the emergency department but no further details were known.

Source: heraldsun.com.au